Boat-launching device.



vE. H. HENDBRSEN. BOAT LAUNGHING DEVICE.

APPLICATON FILED APR, 3. 1914.

1, 1 21 ,499, Patented Dec. 15,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEBT l.

Suva/whom nersez E. H. HENDERSEN. BOAT LAUNGHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED Amm, 1914.

1', 1 21,499. l Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

'HE MORRIS PETERS Cn.. PHOTO-LITHOI, WASHINGTON. n. f

EnNEs'rH. HENDERSEN, or PHILADELPHIA, rnnrrsYLvAivIa.k y

BOAT-LAUNGHING DEVICE.

speeieation of Lettersratem.

Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

Application led April 3, 1914.A Serial No. 829,325.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERNEST H. HENDER- sEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates lof America, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful1mprovements in Boat-Launching Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices for launching boats and rafts, andparticularly to the launching of such objects from a ship at sea.

Although in marine service ships are required to make provision forsaving all of the maximum number of passengers that a particular ship ispermitted to carry, it has at times been found to be exceedinglydiflicult and in some cases even impossible to successfully launch alife boat or raft from the vessels side. This may be due to the normalferocity of the Waves, which tend to batter the smaller boat against theside of the larger one, or it may be due to the listing of the ship,causing the vessel to assume a position out of plumb and thus making itimpossible to lower a boat from the ordinary form of davits without theformer engaging 4the adjacent side of the ship with attendant seriousconsequences, thus placing all of the boats on one side out of possiblecommission.

The object of this invention is to provide a device which will overcomethese and similar diiiiculties, and make possible the safe launching ofall of the life boats carried by a vessel, substantially regardless ofthe position of the latter, or of the condition of the sea.

Another object is to provide such a device, so constructed that when notin use, it occupies a collapsed position out of the way and presenting aneat appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention are fully brought out inthe following specification, when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in whichz- Figure 1 is a side elevation of aportion of an ocean linerequipped with the device in its preferred form;Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, showing the device in foldedposition; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same in extended position;Fig. l is an enlarged detail section of the means for maintaining thedevice rigidly in lowered position; and Fig. 5 is a similar view of thechain.

Referring to the drawings, the invention in its preferred form, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a frame structure, consisting ofsubstantially parallel side members 1, pivotally secured by members 2 tothe hull of a ship at a point above the water line, and f" f havingtheir outer ends joined by a member Il secured to the same. Also securedto the side members and adjacent to their free ends are stout butfiexible cables or chains 5, likewise secured to the ships hull at thesame elevation as the pivotal supports 2, said cables being operative tohold the frame substantially rigidly laterally and against anytransverse movement, and simultaneously acting as guards.

Secured to the end members 4L of the frame is a pair of flexible cablesor chains 6, the same being led over anti-friction supports 7 across theuppermost deck of the ship and thence on the far side to any suitableform of windlass 8, the same being operated either manually or by motivepower. The chains or cables 6 are provided, as shown in Fig. 5, withsectional overlapping metallic plates 9, having downwardly projectinglugs 11 which are pivotally secured to the series ofthe chain links, orto the cables at equal Adistances apart. When the frame is in elevatedposition, dogs or pawls 13, secured to the side members of the same at14, lie substantially parallel to said members, while on the lowering ofthe frame into its eX- tended position, the springs 15, secured to saidmembers 1 and to the dogs 18, force the latter downwardly so that theirfree ends engage the teeth 16 of a rack bar 17, in turn secured to theside plates of the ship. Upon lowering the frame to its extendedposition, the flexible slide or runway thus formed and comprising thechains and plates above described, passes outwardly over the supports 7until the frame assumes its lowermost position, where it isautomatically held by the dogs 13, after which the windlass 8 istightened, to insure the tautness of the inclined way or plane.

Suitably positioned upon the uppermost parts of the liner or other shipto which the f' device is applied, are any desired number or kind oflife boats 20, or rafts, which on being filled with their allotment ofpassengers, are permitted to slide down the inclined plane and intobeing controlled in their downward course in any desired manner. In thisway the the water, the boats or rafts f launching of the life boats froma ship is greatly facilitated when the severity of the WavesWould'practically, if not entirely prevent the same.

Only ,one form for the embodiment of the invention hasrbeen minutelydescribed, but the invention in its broad interpretation shouldanticipate all devices Within its spirit and Within the scope of theappended claims.

l claim 1. A boat launching device, comprising a frame mounted upon avessel, means to automatically maintain the same inoperative position,and a flexible inclined plane secured to said frame and adjustablysecured. to saidy vessel.

2'. A boat launching device, comprising a frame pivotally mounted uponthe side of a vessel, means to automatically maintain the same inoperative position, a flexible inclined plane secured to saidiframe, anda Windlass to adjustably secure the other end ing a pair of flexiblemembers carrying overlapping metallic plates, and a Windlass toadjustably secure said members to the vessel.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ERNEST H. HENDERSEN.

Witnesses HELEN G. DALEY, N oRMAN J. SMITH.

copies of this patent may be obtained for vecents each, by addressingthe Commissioner nf Patents,

\ Washington, D. C.

